# Yourii Sanine — Sanine character guide > Yourii Sanine in Sanine by Mikhail Artsybashev. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sanine, Youra, Yourii **First appearance:** 0001-sanine ## Who they are A calm, mocking wanderer who returns home with no illusions, no ambitions, and a quiet contempt for the moral codes everyone else obeys. ## In the story ### [Sanine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/sanine) The protagonist, returning home after a long absence, embodying a free-spirited and unconventional worldview. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/ii) Sanine observes the social dynamics with detached irony, challenges conventional norms, and reflects on the suppression of individuality. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/iii) Walks Sarudine home, delivers a cynical monologue on blackguards and natural desire, then reads Nietzsche before falling asleep. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/iv) Returns home and is deeply affected by his conversation with Semenoff, beginning to question his revolutionary ideals and the meaning of life. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/v) Yourii is puzzled by Semenoff's cheerfulness after their previous talk, reluctantly explores the cavern to avoid appearing foolish, and experiences a mix of passion and pity toward Sina inside the cave. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/vi) Praises Sina's poem politely; later explores a cavern with Sina, emerging covered in clay. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/vii) Sanine appears at Lida's window, his gaze and words terrifying her and provoking a crisis of shame and desire. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/viii) Referenced by Novikoff as an 'egoist' in the context of the debate. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/ix) Feels irritated by the music and crowd, disgusted by Sanine and Ivanoff, then laments his life to Sina and Dubova, portraying himself as a misunderstood genius. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/ix) Joins the group on the boulevard, laughs at passersby, and goes off with Ivanoff to drink. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/x) Irritated by the mourning and the priest's chanting; later attends a lecture and reads it, feeling a sense of purpose. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xii) Attends the gathering, engages in philosophical debate about God, desire, and life, and later leaves feeling troubled. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xiii) Broods over unrealized ambitions, feels jealousy and moral disgust toward Sanine, and struggles with his own desires. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xiii) Appears calm and friendly, interacts with a young woman by the fire, and is seen as a 'gay dog' by Riasantzeff. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xiv) Engages in anguished self-examination about sexual morality, love, and the meaning of life; comforts Lialia after upsetting her. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xv) Seen by Yourii Svarogitsch laughing with Kousma by a fire in the melon-field, representing a world from which Yourii feels alienated. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xvi) Observes the tension, guesses Lida's arrival, feels pity and jealousy for his sister. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xviii) Leaves the gambling table, climbs the wall to Sarudine's window, and listens to Lida's confrontation. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xix) Sanine persuades Lida to live, arguing against societal hypocrisy and urging her to marry Novikoff. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xx) Confronts Novikoff about Lida, reveals her affair and pregnancy, and later persuades him to consider marriage. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxi) Sanine is mentioned as an object of Sina's fascination; his calm demeanor and physical presence draw her attention. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxii) Yourii is the central focus of the chapter, engaging in intense self-reflection and nihilistic despair, culminating in a failed suicide attempt. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxiii) Reads a tale of an old bishop, then deliberately brings Novikoff to Lida, facilitating their reconciliation. Leaves them alone together. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxiv) Engages in a heated debate about Christianity, arguing it is obsolete and impotent against bestial instincts; feels intellectually superior but is wounded by Sanine's calm assurance. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxiv) Listens silently before interjecting with a calm critique of Christianity's historical role; speaks with frankness and mocks the offensive tone of the debate. ### [Chapter XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxv) Engages in a philosophical debate with Sanine about the nature of life and knowledge, feeling both challenged and impressed by Sanine's calm demeanor. ### [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxviii) Writes a letter to a journalist, reveals Lida's engagement to Novikoff, and defends Lida's freedom to his mother. ### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxix) Refuses to duel Sarudine, dismisses the officers with contempt, and expresses disgust at human stupidity and malice. ### [The Confrontation in the Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxx) Calmly refuses to duel Sarudine, then strikes him when threatened. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxii) Visits Soloveitchik, discusses the meaning of life and his role in Sarudine's fate, remains calm and resolute. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxiv) Grieves over Sarudine's death, debates with Sina, feels guilt about Soloveitchik, reads Ecclesiastes, and contemplates suicide. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxv) Leads the outing, advocates for natural desires, dances naked, and sings joyfully. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxvi) Part of the group at the monastery courtyard, along with Ivanoff and Peter Ilitsch. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxvii) Waits for Sina in ecstasy, then struggles with his own passion and stops, feeling disgust and despair afterward. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxviii) Sanine rows with Sina on the river, shares a passionate embrace, and later observes her from outside her window. He also dismisses a philosophical debate between Yourii Svarogitsch and Ivanoff. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxix) Comforts Sina after the boat ride, holds her, kisses her, and watches her leave with sorrow before shouting with joy in the mist. ### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xl) Visits Sina in the garden to explain his actions and bid her goodbye; offers comfort and a brotherly kiss before leaving. ### [Chapter XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xli) Yourii is the central figure of the chapter, experiencing a profound existential crisis, shame over his encounter with Sina, and ultimately committing suicide. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xlii) Attends the funeral of Yourii Svarogitsch, delivers a harsh speech calling him 'one fool less in the world,' and later drinks beer at the grave with Ivanoff. ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xliii) Decides to leave town because he is bored; expresses nihilistic views about life; jumps onto a moving train. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xliv) Sanine is the protagonist, traveling by train and reacting with disgust to the squalor and cruelty around him. He jumps from the train and strides into the dawn, embracing freedom. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/characters/sanine_yourii - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/characters